Supporting means for fusees and the like



June 11, 1957 w. R. ELSEY 2,

SUPPORTING MEANS FOR FUSEES AND THE LIKE Filed May 1, 1953 FIGZ W v INVEN0IC arr :7 11. E se y, BY 26m.

ATTORNEYS.

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SUPPORTING IVIEANS FOR FUSEES AND THE LIKE Warren P... Elsey, Merion, Pa, assignor of one-half to Paul H, Grifiith, Giadwyne, la.

Application May 1, 1953, Serial No 352,359

1 Glaim. (Cl. 248-46) This invention relates to means for supporting in operative display position on road beds or roadways, fusees or the like such as are ordinarily used, for example, by railway train crews and truck drivers in cases of breakdowns or other emergencies, to serve as warning or danger signals.

The chief aim of my invention is to provide a simple supporting means for the purpose referred to which is susceptible of production in quantity at small cost; which, when not in use, is collapsible into a small compass against the signal device; and which, together with the device with which it is associated, therefore requires but a minimum amount of space for storage in transit.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a supporting means conveniently embodying my invention in one form, collapsed upon the signal device with which it is associated.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the support extended and sustaining the signal device in slightly tilted position on a road bed or other surface.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the supporting means in the form there shown includes a pair of collars and 11 which are slidably engaged about the body of a signal device F represented as having the form of a fusee. Hingedly connected to collar 11, respectively at 12, are two leg elements 13; and hingedly connected each at one end to collar 10 at 14 are two brace elements 15 whereof the distal ends are hingedly connected respectively to the corresponding ends of said leg elements at 16. It is to be understood that the elements 13 and 15 are preferably formed from suitably stiff non-inflammable material such as fire-proofed strip cardboard or the like which is transversely scored at the hinge locations 12, 14 and 16. Normally when not in use the leg and the brace elements 13 and 15 of the support are collapsed snugly against the side of the fusee, with the collars 11 and 12 far apart as in Fig. l, the assemblage thus requiring no more space [or storage than the fusee itself. When the fusee is to be 2,795,386 Patented June 11, 1957 set up in tilted burning position as in Fig. 2, the collar 10 is simply slid down into proximity to the collar 11, incident to which the leg elements 13 and the brace elements 15 will be extended due to yielding action of the hinge connections of said elements with the collars and with each other. Due to being of non-inflammable material the elements 13 and 15, obviously will not be consumed by fire droppings from the burning end of the fusee v F. In order to effectively sustain the fusee against toppling over, the leg elements 13 and the corresponding brace elements 15 are spaced by an angle of ninety degrees.

While, for the purpose of exemplification herein, I have shown my improved support as a means for sustaining a fusee in burning position, it will be apparent that the same can be made to serve in a like capacity for signal or other types of flags, ornaments, certain types of toys, garden hoses, etc. Accordingly, the appended claim is to be liberally construed with this in mind.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

A collapsible support for an elongated fusee or the like, said support being formed from stiff cardboardlike material, said support comprising at least two elongated strap members each including a leg portion and a brace portion, a first collar slidably engaged about said fusee and connected to said brace portions, a second collar slidably engaged about said fusee and connected to said leg portions, each of said brace portions being connected to one of said leg portions, a first hinge formed between said first collar and brace portions, a second hinge formed by a transverse score line located between said leg and brace portions, and a third hinge formed between said second collar and leg portions, whereby said first collar is movable along the body of said fusee towards said second collar to swing the leg and brace portions radially outwardly so that the leg portions serve, in conjunction with the bottom ends of the fusee, as a base to sustain the fusee in a position inclined to the vertical.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Austria Dec. 11, 1933 

